Gravity feed drinking fountain



Sept 1934- H, s. JOHNSON GRAVITY FEED DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed March 50, 1952 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 1,972,777 GRAVITY FEED DRINKING FOUNTAIN Henry S. Johnson, Hylas, Va. Application March 30, 1932, Serial 'No. 602,030

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to water supply devices and more particularly has reference to a gravity feed drinking fountain.

Previous :tothis time it has usuallybeendiflicult and generally unsanitary for a number of individuals to obtain water from either a faucet or pump whereno'satisfactory drinking receptacles have been provided. The use of a common containerihas long "beenrecognized as highly unsanitary. .In rural/communities there has not been any sanitary arrangement provided for children to obtain a drink :fromthe hand pumps usually found in country schools.

An object of this invention is to provide a gravity feed drinking fountain.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sanitary gravity feed drinking fountain.

Stillanother-object of this invention is to provide a drinking fountain for connection to a hand pump.

A still further objrect of this invention is to provide a drinking fountain adapted to be filled with a quantity of water for drinking from any available source.

Yet another object-of this invention is to provide a gravity feed fountain having a cooperative inlet and With these and other objects view. which may be incident to any improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set :forth and claimed, with the understanding that the :several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is aperspective view showing my novel gravity feed drinking fountain attached to a hand pump.

Figurej2 is a sectional view from the side of the operative parts of the drinking fountain forming thesubject matter of my invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of a modified form of structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my novel drinking fountain comprises a container 1,

such as is shown in Figure 1, provided with a conical bottom 2, either integrally constructed therewith or attached in any suitable manner. The container 1 is shownclosed at the top with a conical cover 3 which may be either integrally formed-therewithor attached in some other suitable manner. An inlet 1 is provided adjacent the top line of the container 1 permitting water to flow thereto. The inlet 4 may be provided in the cover Sinstea'dof the container lif so desired, and in this connection it will be apparent that any other form'of cover fixed on the container 1 in any desirable way-may be substituted for cover 3 shown.

Asection of flexible tubing or piping 5 is shown 2.; with one end fitted in the inlet 4 provided in the container with the other end connected to a spigot 6 formed on a conventional hand pump? such as is customarily used in conjunction with wells in ruraldistricts.

A 'collar 8 is formed around the inlet 4 over which the end of the tubing '5 is adapted to be telescoped so as to insure a tight, leak-proof fit between the tubing and the container 1-, the other end of the tubing being telescoped over the 'end of the'spigot 6 on the pump. Manifestly, any other forms of connection between the spigot 6 and the container l'may be substituted.

The container is adaptedto be attached to the pump bytop and bottom straps 9 and 10 fitting around the body of the pump and the container fastened together therebetween by rivets 11 or other connecting members to insure a firm connection between the container and the pump for support of the former by the latter. It will be apparent from the foregoing that operationof a conventional handle 12 on the pump will be adapted to fill the container with water passing from the spigot 6 through the tubing into the container.

Icontemplate the attachment of my novel fountain device to the bottom 2 of the container for securing water therefrom for drinking purposes in a sanitary manner. The fountain comprises a section of piping 13, as shown in Figure 2, internally threaded adjacent the top end and adapted to be screwed over the lower end of an external bushing having the top end extended through a top 15 provided in the bottom 2 of the container fixed therein by a'collar 16 screwed over the top end. The bushing 14 is formed with an integral peripheral collar 17 adapted to abut against the outer wall of the bottom 2 so astoinsure a firm union of the section of pipe 13 with respect to the bottom 2 by tightening of the collar 16 adapted to engage against the inner wall of the bottom adjacent the aperture 15.

As the container 1 is adapted to be mounted on the pump with its longitudinal axis in a vertical plane, the section of piping 13 fixed on the bottom 2 thereof will extend at an angle of approximately 45 by reason of the conical form of the bottom so that water in container 1 will find exit through the aperture 15 in the bottom 2 and run down the section of piping 13 under the force of gravity. A projection 13 having a vertical aperture 19 communicating with the interior of the section of piping 13 is integrally formed on the top of the section adjacent the lower end for receiving the lower end of a section of piping 20 flared at the top as at 21. The lower end of the section of piping 20 is threaded and is adapted to engage in internal threads provided in the top portion of the projection 19. A closure 22 is provided in the bottom end of the section of piping 13, having external threads adapted to engage the internal threads provided in the end of the section of piping 13. Thus, water flowing down the section of piping 13 from the container 1, will be directed out through the section of piping 20 and the flared top 21 under the force of gravity, the flared top 21 being positioned on a horizontal plane lower than the bottom 2 of the container so as to provide for drinking from the flared end 21 formed on the section of piping 20, acting as a bubbler.

I provide a suitable valve arrangement for controlling the flow of water from the container 1 through the sections of piping 13 and 20. The closure 22 is provided with a central outlet aperture 23 and a valve seat 24 adapted to receive a valve 25. A plug 26 provided with a central aperture 27 and a valve seat 28 for receiving a valve 29 is fixed within the section of piping 13 against the lower end of the bushing 14, being provided with external threads for engaging the internal threads provided in thesection of piping 13 adjacent the top end. The valves 25 and 29 are adapted to be oppositely operated. That is, when the valve 29 is open, the valve 25 is closed, and oppositely, when the valve 29 is closed, the valve 25 is open. In this manner, when the valve 29 is open, water from the container will be directed through the section of piping 20 for drinking as the valve 25 is closed, and when the valve 29 is closed, so as to prevent water from the container entering into the section of piping 13, the valve 25 will be open 'to afford an outlet for the waste water collected therein.

For the operation of the valves 29 and 25, I provide a button 29' seated in the top portion of a cylindrical member 30 screwed on a collar 31 integrally formed on the upper periphery of the section of piping 13 in the central part thereof. The top end of a shaft 32 is fixed in the bottom of the button 29 and the button 29' is adapted to be pushed against the tension of a helical spring 33 fitted in the cylindrical member 30 against an annular projection 34 formed on the internal periphery thereof adjacent the bottom. The shaft 32 is adapted to extend through an aperture 35 formed in the periphery of the section of piping 13 concentric with the cylindrical member 30 and engaging one end of an arm 36 having the other end keyed on a shaft 37, the ends of which are adapted to be journalled in the side walls of the section of piping 13 transversely with respect thereto. The collared aperture 31 for admitting the shaft 32 isclosed by a disk of rubber or other flexible material 38 having the edges held by the lower end of the cylindrical member 30 against an annular seat 39 provided on the periphery of the section of piping 13 on the internal periphery of the collar 31. The disk 38 is provided with a central aperture for receiving the shaft 32 and a nut 40 and a collar 41 are fixed on the shaft 32 on each side of the disk 38 for closing the central aper-- ture therein. The valves 25 and 29 are provided With stems 42 and 43 having arms 44 and 45 pivoted on the ends thereof for pivoting at the other ends to an arm 46 centrally keyed on the shaft 37. Guides 47 and 48 are fixed adjacent faces of the closure 22 and the plug 26, respectively, for centering the stems 42 and 43 on the valves.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the valve 29 for admitting water to the section of piping 13 is normally closed while the valve 25 on the outlet end of the section of piping 13 is normally open. With the parts thus positioned, no Water from the container 1 is admitted to the section of piping 1.3. When the button 29 is pressed, however, against the tension of spring 33, the shaft 37 is rotated clockwise by reason of the connection of the shaft 32 operated by the button 29 to the arm 36 keyed on the shaft 37 to operate the arm 46 keyed thereon to open the valve 29 and close the valve 25. In this position of the parts, water from the container 1 is admitted to the section of piping 13 as the valve 29 is opened and directed to flow to the section of piping 20 for drinking from the flared end 21, as the valve 25 is closed. With the release of pressure on the button 29',the valve 29 is seated under the tension of the spring 32- so as to cut off the supply of water from the container 1, and the valve 25 is opened so as to allow an outlet for the Waste water collected within the section of piping 13 through the aperture 23 provided in the bottom closure 22.

It will be manifest that while I have shown and described a particular valve arrangement, any other valve mechanism found'desirable may be substituted therefor, the feature of my invention being the spring of water from afountain under the force of gravity feed from a body of Water positioned at a higher level with provision for discontinuing the fiow of water and for allowing an outlet for waste water collected, the inlet and outlets being oppositely controlled.

In Figure 3 is shown a modified form of container 1 in which an inlet 63 is provided at the apex at the top portion 3 of the contain-er 1 for connection under the spigot 6 on a pump through a flexible joint 64 and collar 65. In this construction the apexon the bottom portion 2 of the container is provided with a conduit 66 which may have a valve 67 connected thereto providing an outlet in the bottom of the container 1. The valve 67 is preferably maintained in a slightly cracked position. The extent to which it is cracked, however, should be such that less water passes therethrough than will pass through the bubbler 21 when the button 29' is pressed. In this construction, water supplied to the bubbler will be fresh, any surplus quantity remaining in the container being drained off through the outlet together with any foreign material settling therein, providing at all times for cool water supply directly from a well. Also, the possibility of water collecting in the container freezing and obstructing or damaging the container is eliminated and the aperture further provides for the normal use of the hand pump for supplying water to receptacles and the like when the fountain arrangement is not operated.

There is accomplished by this invention a gravity feed drinking fountain wherein from a quantity of Water collected in any suitable manner, a drinking fountain may be selectively operated through the force of gravity on the water, the excess of water being collected and disposed of after use of the fountain, with provision for preventing splashing of the water on a consumer either while drinking or upon discontinuing the operation of the fountain.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drinking fountain comprising a container for storing a quantity of water, a gravity feed the container to the gravity feed line, a valve for draining the gravity feed line, common means for simultaneously opening the first of said valves and closing the other, or vice versa, said means being located within the gravity feed line, and a bubbler located on the gravity feed line between the two valves.

2. A drinking fountain comprising a container for storing a quantity of water, a short gravity feed line extending therefrom, a bubbler on the lower end of the gravity feed line, a valve in the gravity feed line located at the upper end of said line and adjacent the container and designed to admit water from the container to the gravity feed line, means extending within the gravity feed line to operate the valve, and means for draining said gravity feed line below said valve when said valve is closed.

3. A drinking fountain comprising a container for storing a quantity of water, a gravity feed line thereon, a valve for admitting water from the container to the gravity feed line, a valve for draining the gravity feed line, common means for simultaneously opening the first of said valves and closing the other, or vice versa, a bubbler located on the gravity feed line between the two valves, and means to drain the container, but at a rate slow-er than the withdrawal of water from the container when the first mentioned valve is opened.

HENRY S. JOHNSON. 

